Automatic electric-circuit closer



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-.-Sheet 1.

I W. H. SHUEY. Automatic Electric Circuit Closer.

ATTORNEY NiPETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. SHUEY.

Automatic Electric Circuit Closer. NO. 235,817. Patented Dec. 21,1880.

NAPEIERS. FHOTO-UTNDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D 0- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

. W. H. SHUBY. Automatic Electric Circuit Closer.

Patented Dec. 21,1880.

wn' ESSES nrvmrwon W ATTORNEY N. FEI'ERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W. H. SHUEY. Automatic Electric Circuit Closer. No. 235,817. Patented Dec. 21,1880.

WZTNESSES INVENTOR V ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGEQ WILLIAM H. SHUEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,817, dated December 21, 1880.

Application filed October 13, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. H. SHUEY, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Electric-Circuit Closers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in electric signaling apparatus; and it consists in an automatic electric-circuit closer designed for and adapted to be used in connection with and accessory-to my improved automatic electric time-signaling apparatus, for which I obtained Letters Patent numbered 229,921, and hearing date July 13, 1880. By passing an electrical current flowing from the time-measuring apparatus of my signaling mechanism to the signal-gong thereof through the interposing medium of my circuit-closing device, I am enabled to modify the electrical current in such manner that as a result I obtain a series of intermittent signals, following each other in quick succession, automatically operated, and not before obtained by the employment of electrical forces. I

With this end in view my invention consists, essentially, of an automatic electric-circuit closer, consisting in a train, verge, vibrating hook, swinging armature, electro magnets, notched disk, circuit-closing wheel, insulated spring contact-points having electric connections, a motor to actuate the train, the escapement of which is controlled by the said electro-magnets, an electric connection between the circuit-closer and time mechanism, and connection between it and an electric gong, which latter the circuit-closer influences to produce a series of intermittent signals.

My invention further consists in certain details ofconstruction and combinations ofparts, as will further be described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view showing my improved circuit-closer as used in connection with the time mechanism,

battery, stop-pin wheel, and electric gong of my time-signaling apparatus. Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the circuit-closer. Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof with the rear frameplate removed to show the wheel, train, and escapement mechanism. Fig. dis a plan view of the circuit-closing device; and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the positions of the connecting-wires, and will serve to more clearly illustrate the paths of the electric currents.

Let A represent a standard upon which the component parts of the circuit-closing device are mounted, B B, posts supporting the motor, train, escapement, and signal-circuit closing mechanism O O, a pair of electro-magnets, and D an armature energized thereby. A B C and D are binding-posts, through which connection is made between the circuitcloser and the time signaling apparatus, and A D are binding-posts connecting the circuitcloser with the electric signal-gong A The train, supported in the frame-plates H H consists of wheel a, mounted on the arbor D and meshing with pinion a, of wheel I), mounted on arbor o and meshing with the pinion c of crownwheel d, and of crown-wheel (I, mounted on the arbor a and engaging with verge I), which latter is mounted on the arbor 0, also supporting the vibrating book (1. Vibrating hook d is secured to a block, (1 journaled on the arbor c, and is adapted to engage with a pin, a located at the extremity of the rear arm, (1 ,01? the escapement-lever B The rate of vibration of the said hook d is governed by a regulating-ball, 0 which has sliding adjustment on a rod, 0 secured pendulumwise to the block (1 screw d? retaining it in position at any point thereon. According to a well-known principle, this ball is raised or lowered on the rod as it is desired to accelerate or diminish the rate of vibration of the hook d and the consequent motion of the, train.

l lscapementlever B mounted on arbor 0 has one arm, (1*, in engagement with the vibrating hook cl, and its other arm, E, adapted to engage with peripheral notch c in the disk F, mounted on the arbor a and revolving with the train-wheel b. To the under side, and midway the length of the forward arm, E, of the escapement-lever B a bar, 0*, is pivoted, to

the lower end of which an armature, D, is transversely secured, and swinging directly in front of the poles H H of the magnets O C.

The inner face ofthe armature, or that which is presented to the poles of the magnets, is provided with a thin plate, g, of any suitable non-electrical substance, to guard against the attraction of the armature by the residual magnetism left in the magnets after their normal discharge, and the consequent accidental actuation of the train.

An adjustable screw, E, supported in a post, F, serves to regulate the play of the armature, D, which, together with its supportingbar a, is so hung on the forward arm, E, of the escapement-lever B that when the magnets G are vitalized and the armature is attracted to poles H H the hooked end of said arm E will be raised out of either one of the notches e in the disk F with which it is in engagement, thereby depressing the rear arm, d of the lever B and releasing the engagement of the vibrating hook d with pin a at the extremity of said arm. The vibrating hook will now be started in vibration and actuate the verge b in. engagement with the teeth of the crown-wheel, and the train once set in motion will operate to revolve the arbor a and with it the circuit-closing wheel G, secured to that end of the arbor which projects through the front plate, H, of the train-frame. Circuit-closing wheel G is, in this instance,

\ provided with six teeth orprojections, 0 on its peripheral face, arranged in groups of three at points directly opposite each other, said teeth or projections operating to raise a spring-metal contact-point, E mounted on an insluated bracket, F secured to the frameplate H, and having current-connection with the battery through the coiled wire b and close the circuit between said contact-point and the spring-metal contact-point H superposed upon bracket F insulated from contact-point E by insulatingplate h, and having connection with the signal-gong through the coiled wire 1). Of the two contact-points E H the former is the longer, and has its free end, which engages in its normal position with the periphery of the circuit-closing wheel, bifurcated to increase its flexibility. The teeth or projections on the circuit-closing wheel thus perform the function of forcing the two contact-points in engagement with each other, closing the circuit between the battery and signal-gong, which will be again broken as soon as the revolution of the circuitclosing wheel from left to right carries the teeth or projections beyond the range of the longer point, E allowing it to break contact with contact-point H and resume its normal position. It will thus be seen that as often as the two points E and H are in engagement with each other the circuit will be closed and the bell or gong will sound one stroke or signal. The number of signals sounded and the length of the interval between them will thus depend on the number of teeth on the circuitclosing wheel and their proximity to each other. However, the cautionary signals cannot be sounded through the agency of the circuit-closer, unless by means of the hand-knobs, until the electro-magnets O C have been first vitalized to release the train-escapement, and thus permit the wheel G to revolve.

The electro-magnets O 0 here used may be of any approved form of construction, and are supported above the surface of the standard A by a bracket, f connection being made between them and the stop-pin wheel E of the timesignalin g apparatus through the bindingpost A, a wire attached to said post passing first to the bobbin 0, there forming a helix. Returning, it forms a similar helix in the bobbin 0, and is then attached to the binding-post 0 through which the current returns to the battery.

The motor employed with the circuit-closer to actuate the train may be weight, water, spring, or other power; but I have used the spring type as the best adapted and most convenient in this capacity. Spring E encircles the arbor D upon which the wheel a is mounted, and which projects through the plate H of the train-frame, and is squared, so that a key may be applied for winding up the motor. The outer end of the said spring E is secured to the upper right-hand pillar of the three pillars 6 which at once separate and retain 111 place the plates H and H of the trainframe. The springis further provided with the usual ratchet-wheel f ratchet g and ratchetspringf A ratchet-cam, I, having engagement with a pin, 2', located on the ratchetwheel barrel J, rigidly secured to the arbor D serves to prevent the spring from being wound too tightly. I, of which there are a limited number, are arranged to engage with the pin i at each revolution of the ratchet-wheel]? \Vhen, now, the spring is wound sufficiently tight all of the notches in the cam will have been presented to the pin and passed, and the pin i, in its next revolution, will come in contact with the periphery of the cam, and the key will be prevented from further turning. As the spring runs down the motion of the ratclietwl1eel barrel will be reversed and the pin will engage with the notches in the cam from beneath, and finally restore it to its first position.

Having thus described the mechanical construction of my circuit-closer, to a more complete understanding of its operation it becomes necessary to give a description of its working when employed in connection with the time signaling apparatus and when under the influence of electrical forces.

It might here be well to observe that it is an established custom with railway companies to sound acautionary signal, ata certain time determined upon and announced by them, be-

fore the departure of every train, and also a starting-signal at the exact time of starting. Some companies may, for instance, announce The notches in the cam that five minutes before the departure of all trains a cautionary signal of five bells following in quick succession will be sounded, and another signal of one bell be sounded at the exact moment of starting. Other companies may agree to sound, as a cautionary signal, two bells two minutes before the departure of each train, and one bell at the exactmoment of departure; but the signal fixed upon by a majority of the railway companies is the sounding of three bells three minutes before starting-time and one bell at that moment, and it is to this particular signal that my device, as herein shown, is adapted,-although it is evident that by increasing or decreasing the number of teeth on the circuit-closing wheel any desired number of signals may be sounded. To effect such changes the teeth may be made removable, or several wheels, each having a dift'erent number of teeth or projections, may accompany each machine.

My time signaling apparatus described in Patent No. 229,921, as now constructed, only partially accomplishes signaling purposes. It is true that it is capable of sounding at any desired instant a cautionary signal, such signal consisting in one single stroke or sounding of the gong; but in its present form it admits of no intermittent signaling. This difficulty is completely overcome by the employment of the improved circuit-closer herein described as an interposing medium through which the current must pass before itreaches the signalgong, the circuit-closer operating to modify the current in such manner that any variety of intermittent signals may be given.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 5, let A represent the case to contain the stop-pin wheel, with all its parts removed except the wire connections. Assuming,now, thatapin on the stop-pin wheel representing the moment of time at which it is desired to sound the intermittent signal has been withdrawn therefrom, thereby allowing the hinged circuit-closer of the time-wheel to drop a sufficient distance to establish a contact between the metal strip on the frame and the metallic strip or plate attached to the hinged circuit-closers, the circuit will thus be closed between plate 0 and point l on the diagram, and the electric current will flow through wire c to m and from thence to binding-post A, from thence to electric magnet G, from thence to magnet 0, returning to the batterythrough binding-postG In this passage of the electric current themagnets are vitalized, and theyin turn magnetize and attract to their poles H H the swinging armature D, the movement of which will raise the hooked arm E of the escapementlever out from either of the notches e in the disk F. As the forward arm of the lever is raised the rear arm will be depressed, the engagemei'it of the vibratiu hook therewith will be released, and the hook started vibrating. The verge will now engage with the different teeth of the crown-wheel and the train will be started in motion and operate to revolve the circuit-closing wheel, which is adjusted to perform a half-revolution at every closing of the circuit l 0, and to stop in such position that as soon as it is again set in motion a tooth will immediately operate to raise the spring contact-point E connected with an independent current from the battery through coiled wire b entering the circuitcloser by way of binding-post l), and bring said contact-spring E in engagement with contact-spring H insulated from E by block h. The circuit will thus be closed between the battery and gong, which latter will sound a single signal or stroke-on the bell thereof. The circuit'closing wheel, revolving from left to right,will soon liberate the spring-point E from engagement with the first tooth thereof, allowing it to resume its normal position. As the wheel revolves the next tooth or projection will operate to raise contact-spring E and bring it in engagement with contactspring H The circuit-being closed, the signal will be sounded once, the circuit be again broken as before, only to be released by the third and last tooth of this set. The gong has now sounded three separate times; but the train is arranged to carry the wheel aronnd,in completing its half-revolution, to the next set of teeth on the opposite side of the wheel, the object of this being to bring the other set of teeth in position for immediate action 011 the occasion of the next sounding of the cautionary signal. The circuit has now been closed and broken and the gong sounded three times, and the circuit-closing wheel brought in position for the next signal in the space of one minute, more or less, during which the current has been flowing through the magnets (l U of the circuit-closer. Automatic mechanism, in connection with the stop-pin wheel, will break the circuit between points l and plate 0 at the expiration of this chosen moment, the magnets will be demagnetized, the armature will cease to be attracted to their poles, and will of its own gravity assume its normal position, the hooked end of the escapement-lever will be received in a notch in the rubber disk, the rear arm of said lever will be raised to engage with the vibrating hook, and the motion of the train will be arrested. The circuit does not necessarily flow through the electro-magnets of the circuit-closer for the space of one minute, or even long enough to allow the train to move and carry the rubber disk forward far enough to prevent the book from dropping back into the same notch, as the signal-gong circuit may be opened almost instantly after the train is set in motion, and the hooked end of arm E will rest on the periphery of the rubber disk and prevent the arm (1 from engaging with the vibrating book (1 until the said hooked end of armE drops into the next notch in the disc. Three signals, separately sounded, though in quick succession, have been given, and it now becomes necessary to sound the gong once at the moment the train leaves the station for a starting-signal. This is effected by the time signaling apparatus alone, without any intervention or action on the part of the circuitcloser further than the passing of the current through wires attached to its standard. The stop-pin wheel, in its revolution from right to left, will, by certain adjustments, have revolved in three minutes from the time when the circuit between points Z and plate 0 was closed sufficientl y far forward to allow another circuit-closer in same line with and forward of the circuit-closer closing the circuit between 1 0 to'fall into the space formed by the withdrawal of a pin from the stop-pin wheel, as

before described, and close the circuit 1 0. This current will fiow through wire m to m from thence to binding-post B thence to binding-post A and from thence to the gong, returning by a path indicated by I) C m m The sounding of the starting-signal, as will be seen by foliowing the paths of its current, does not set the circuit-closer train in motion, as this signal consists in a single stroke on the gong-bell, and requires no'modification of the current.

If at any time other than indicated on the time-table it should become necessary, as for special and extraordinary trains, to sound the signals, it may be done without disturbing the adjustment of the stop-pin wheel by switching the battery-current onto wire 00. A pressure on the hand-knob P will now close the circuit and sound the cautionary signal, and the hand-knob l? similarly manipulated will close another circuit and sound the starting-signal.

In the foregoing description I have detailed the construction and practical operation of my circuit-closer as used in connection with my patent electric time signaling apparatus. A system of signaling having been determined upon, and the circuit-closer having been once adapted thereto and placed in its position in the circuit, it will need no attention save that of rewinding the motor.

The time-table may be altered and the stoppin wheel adjusted to correspond therewith without alteringor disturbing the circuit-closer adjustment. Particular attention was given in designing this machine to produce an article capable of performing every desired function, and yet be one of extreme simplicity.

The train and escapement are so simple as to insure a correct action, and an incorrect signal happening under the present system of signaling, and often the cause of serious trouble and annoyance, is rendered almost an impossibility.

It is evident that many slight changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of my improved automatic electric-circuit closer may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the particular arrangement of parts shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such alterations as fall within the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a time-piece, a device constructed substantially as described and placed in electrical connection with said time-piece, said device adapted to close an electric circuit at any predetermined mo- 7 5 ment or moments of the day, of a gong and a circuit-closer, the latter constructed substantially as described, and adapted to cause the gong to sound any desired number of times to indicate one signal and any desired number of times to indicate another signal, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a time-piece, a device constructed substantially as described and placed in electrical connection with said time-piece, said device adapted to close an electric circuit at any predetermined moment or moments of the day, of a gong and a circuit-closer constructed substantially as described, and adapted to cause the gong to sound any desired number of times to indicate one signal and a single time for another signal, substantially as set forth.

3. In a circuit-closer, the combination, with a train, a verge, and a vibrating book, of an 5 escapement-lever, one arm of which engages with the vibrating hook and the opposite arm with a disk, and of a disk revolved by the train, and having a notched periphery, substantially as set forth.

4. In a circuit-closer, the combination, with a train, a "erge, and a vib ating hook, of an escapement-lever the rear arm of which engages with the vibrating hook and the forward arm with a notched disk, and a swinging armature secured to the forward arm of said escapement-lever, substantially as set forth.

5. In a circuit-closer, the combination, with a circuit-closing wheel having two sets of teeth 1 IO or projections, and yielding contact-points engaging said teeth, of an armature and mechanism connected therewith for imparting onehalf revolution to the circuit-closing wheel when the armature is drawn toward its mag- :15 nets, substantially as set forth.

6. In a circuit-closer, the combination, with a circuit-closing wheel having two sets of teeth, and yielding contact-points engaging said teeth, of a wheel having notches in its op- 12o posite sides, an escapement-leveradapted to engage in the said notches and limit the circuit-closing wheel to one-half a revolution at each operation of the circuit-closer, a swinging armature attached to said escapement-le- 12 5 ver, and a pair of electro-magnets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of September. 1880.

I WILLIAM H. SHUEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD NIcoLLs, HENRY H. RU'roN. 

